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Daysleeper: How to cope with the graveyard shift

January 10, 2013 4:41pm

Working all day is tiring, but the health risks are even higher for those who work at night. Many people on the graveyard shift have difficulty getting proper sleep and nutrition, which increases the risk factors for disease such as stroke and obesity.

Sharina Joy Pagkatipunan, who has been working at night for two years, said it took three months before she could fully adjust her sleeping habits. "Babaliktarin mo talaga 'yung araw mo, gabi mo. Mahirap talaga. Lahat na tinry ko nung first three months para yung routine ng katawan ko, maitulog ko pa rin ng tama," Pagkatipunan shared on “Kape at Balita” on January 10.

According to a study from the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the University of the Philippines Population Institute, 47.7 percent of call center agents have insomnia.

Occupational physician Dr. Albert Asprec explained that sleeping during the day is difficult because it goes against the body's circadian rhythm. He said some systems in the body work during the night, while others work during the day.

This conflict results in both short term and long term symptoms. Short term symptoms include frequent migraines, which are most common in females. "Kapag pumupunta ka sa mga company na may trabahong graveyard shift o night shift, sa records sa consultation sa clinic ang nakikita lahat sa babae karaniwan migraine," Asprec said, adding that one long term symptom for women is painful and irregular menstruation. Some, like Pagkatipunan, suffer iron deficiency. "Nagpa checkup ako so regularly may iron supplements and vitamins to cope," she said.

Respiratory diseases were common among both men and women who work at night, particularly in work areas that were closed. "Kaya ang exchange ng mga respiratory diseases, mas laganap," he said.

The study from ILO and UP also said that 54 percent of call center agents who work at night experience fatigue. "Masakit siya, hindi mo magalaw 'yung leeg mo. Kapag ginalaw mo siya, masakit talaga," Adrian Bataller, whose shift is from 5 P.M. to 2 A.M, said on “Unang Balita.”

Asprec also warned against overeating, because those who work at night tend to feel hungry due to lowered levels of leptin, the hormone which regulates appetite. Eating also increases levels of blood sugar, insulin, and triacylglycerol, which store energy.

Asprec explained that triacylglycerol levels decrease after two days in people who work during the day, but for those who work at night, the levels remain high.

"Kapag tumataas yun, nagsesettle yun sa mga blood vessel at sa puso natin," he said, adding that this leads to atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries. "Kapag kumapal yung ugat, lumiliit yung daanan ng dugo kaya nagiging high blood at risk for stroke," he said, noting that the risk for cardiovascular stroke increases by five percent for every five years after 15 years of working at night.